Many female painters have made significant contributions to art history. Not only did they create masterpieces, but they pioneered art movements and painting techniques that inspire artists today. However, they remain in the shadows of the corridors of art history.
There is no doubt that historically speaking, women did not enjoy the same rights as men. Male artists were mostly free to experiment and express their creativity to their heart’s desire, while female artists were often not taken seriously or afforded the same education, opportunities, and exposure in spite of their talent.
However, despite the challenges and obstacles, the world was gifted with remarkable female artists throughout history. These women in art belonged to different social eras and various art movements and had vastly different working conditions and points of view from the public and the progenitors. Each of them had to overcome her own set of adversities to succeed, whether these obstacles were imposed by the society they live in or by the artist’s own life path.
Many female artists made their mark in the Renaissance and Baroque periods. Even though we cannot possibly hope to mention every female artist in these periods, the 8 female artists mentioned below inspired the world with their extraordinary skills and unyielding courage.
Catharina or Caterina van Hemessen (1528-1565)
Catharina’s father, Jan Sanders van Hemsessen, was a distinguished painter in Antwerp. Catharina focused primarily on religious subjects but was also interested in other topics. Having an eye for rendering the delicate qualities of others around had fostered the perfect foundation for Catharina van Hemessen to become a portrait artist.
At an early age, her talents began to be recognized amongst the highest ranks of society, and she even caught the attention of Maria of Austria who indulged her artistic talents for many years. It is believed that van Hemessen is the first artist of any gender to have painted a self-portrait on an easel. Beyond this remarkable feat, she wanted to be remembered, not only as a woman who had a passionate love and hobby for artistry but, as a real, working artist.
Sofonisba Anguissola (1532-1625)
Born into an aristocratic family in northern Italy, Anguissola was a prodigy of the Italian Renaissance. Thanks to her family’s wealth and connections, Anguissola was able to catch the attention of many of the Masters of the period such as Michelangelo, Van Dyck, and Vasari. She even was granted the opportunity to be an apprentice painter, a rarity for a woman at this time. Anguissola was made a lady-in-waiting in the court of Philip II, the king of Spain. During her years in the court, she put her artistic skills to use, painting the highest ranks of Spanish society, including the royal family, and the king himself.
Lavinia Fontana (1552-1614)
Lavinia Fontana was deeply embedded in the Mannerist style of painting. Art historians have attributed her as the first professional female artist in the course of art history. Beyond this incredible achievement, it is also believed that Fontana was the first female artist to have painted female nudes. She was the first female artist to use live models for inspiration. Beyond her interest in the female form, Fontana focused heavily on mythological and religious scenes. She eventually was indoctrinated into the Accademia di San Luca in Rome, by Pope Clement VIII. Because of this historic achievement, she and her family had the privilege of moving to Rome. Fontana received a number of accolades throughout her illustrious career, impacting the course of art history.
Artemisia Gentileschi (1593-1654)
Artemisia Gentileschi is one of the world’s most recognizable and celebrated female artists of the Baroque period. Following in the footsteps of her father, Orazio Gentileschi, Gentileschi was enamoured by the style and artistry of Caravaggio. Gentileschi is known for her striking and violent scenes. While training in Rome, Gentileschi’s art teacher sexually abused her, which, in turn, fueled an artistic rage in the rendering of many of her paintings. Not only did Gentileschi have to endure the trauma which resulted from sexual abuse, but also, she experienced the ongoing shame of a public trial. She used her canvases as a vessel to expunge her trauma, pain, and suffering. Gentileschi focused primarily on women in allegorical images, often depicting strong women through the midst of their personal sufferings.
Giovanna Garzoni (1600-1670)
est known for her delicate watercolor paintings, Giovanna Garzoni found interest in an array of subject matters. Most notably, plants, vegetables, animals, and portraits. Beyond this, she devoted many works to religious, allegorical, and mythological subject matter. Certain details about her life remain unclear, if not unknown. However, art historians can confirm that Garzoni painted and traveled throughout modern-day Italy, including Venice, Naples, Rome, Turin, and Florence. She even made her way outside of Italy, finding her way in Paris, which required a long journey at this time.
Judith Leyster (1609-1660)
Judith Leyster was a prominent female artist of the Dutch Golden Age. In fact, she was one of the first female artists to gain admission to Saint Luke’s Guild of Haarlem. Beyond her impressive schooling, Leyster was gifted in terms of her ability to create a myriad of styles of paintings. However, for centuries, as in the case of many other female artists, Leyster’s works were misattributed. Many art historians believed Frans Hals, or her husband, artist Jan Miense Molenaer, to have been the hand behind her paintings. Thanks to the discovery of a monogram, her artist signature, many of her works have since been correctly re-attributed.
Perhaps her most celebrated work is Self-Portrait. The painting exudes an air of confidence in her abilities and growing popularity amongst the Dutch academic painting community at the time. She depicts herself sitting beside a canvas, adorned in fine clothing. She presents herself as she is in the process of painting a violinist, but at this moment, she looks away from the painting to interact with the spectator. Her self-portrait remains one of the most celebrated Dutch Golden Age paintings, to this day.
Mary Beale (1633–1699)
kMary Beale was known to the world of art history as one of the first professional female artists in England was. Through her artwork and the stream of sales, Beale was able to support her family, relying solely on her artwork and art lessons as a full-time profession. She was known for her portraiture. Her talent gained traction throughout the nobility of English society, attracting many patrons from the court of King Charles II. Beale’s business as an artist was strengthened by the support of her husband. In fact, Charles, her husband, was her business partner and was in charge of bookkeeping. He recorded her daily activities which provided art historians with special insight into their business practices and Beale’s world as a female artist at the time.
Elisabetta Sirani (1638-1665)
Elisabetta Sirani achieved great success during her short life of 27 years but it was a very fruitful career. Like other female artists of the time, Sirani was born into an artistic family. Her father was a painter himself, but by the time Sirani was only a teenager, she had already outpaced him in terms of artistic abilities. Starting at the age of 19, Sirani set out to financially support her family through artwork commissions. Her prominence began to grow throughout Bologna, catching the attention of Grand Duke Cosimo III de Medici, an alpha-patron of the arts.
Her paintings can be characterized as striking. Sirani enjoyed painting allegorical or biblical scenes, most of which feature female subjects. In terms of style, her work reflects the Baroque period, emphasizing an intense contrast of light and dark, known as chiaroscuro. Sirani eventually formed her own school, as she sought to teach and uplift other female artists throughout Bologna. Shortly after, she mysteriously died at the age of 27. The cause behind Sirani’s death remains a mystery and a source of historical debate to this day. Although her life was short, her impact was immense.
Each of these artists is an inspiration. At VVFAG we take pride in offering Museum quality art reproductions illuminating the creative works of these female painters’ works as sources of great brilliance and upliftment. VVFAG’s priceless collections of Handmade oil paintings, and Classic oil painting reproductions cannot fail to overwhelm the visitor to our catalogue of museum quality art reproductions with their spellbinding beauty and the brilliance of their creative skills. They provide a vibrant picture of the power and range of human creativity.
We are a global art gallery with an extensive catalogue of Custom oil painting reproduction paintings for sale. At VVFAG you will find a large and breathtaking selection of Fine art oil painting reproductions of many exemplary artworks of female painters, each one a masterpiece, from the 14th century to the contemporary art era. These paintings for the living room or your workspace will bring the same inspiration and upliftment as those in the global national galleries.
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